2011 CHILDREN’S BOOK COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS In 2011 the judges read 403 books for the 4 Fiction categories
Exploring the books nominated in this year’s shortlists for the CBCA Children’s Book of the Year Awards
AWARD’S CRITERIA The Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards are for books with an implied readership under the age of eighteen. The judges assess entries for the Awards primarily for literary merit, including cohesiveness in significant literary elements; language chosen carefully for its appropriateness to the theme and style of the work with proper regard to the aesthetic qualities of the language; originality in the treatment of literary elements as they apply to the form of the work. Judges should also consider quality of illustrations, book design, production, printing and binding.
CBCA Book of the Year: Older Readers: outstanding books of fiction, drama or poetry which require of the reader a degree of maturity to appreciate the topics, themes and scope of emotional involvement. generally books in this category will be appropriate in style and content for readers in their secondary years of schooling.
Older Readers Book of the Year Shortlist 2011
Graffiti moon Cath Crowley Pan Macmillan Australia
The Midnight Zoo Sonya Hartnett Viking Books, Penguin Group (Australia)
About a girl Joanne Hornimann Allen & Unwin
The life of a teenage body-snatcher Doug MacLeod Penguin Books, Penguin Group (Australia)
The piper’s son Melina Marchetta Penguin Books, Penguin Group (Australia)
Six impossible things Fiona Wood Pan Macmillan Australia
CBCA Book of the Year: Younger Readers : outstanding books of fiction, drama or poetry for readers who have developed independent reading skills but are still developing in literary appreciation. generally books in this category will be appropriate in style and content for readers from the middle to upper primary years.
Younger Readers Book of the Year Shortlist 2011
Just a dog Michael Gerard Bauer Omnibus Books, Scholastic Australia
Henry Hoey Hobson Christine Bongers Woolshed Press, Random House Australia
Violet Mackerall’s brilliant plot Anna Branford Ill. Sarah Davis Walker Books Australia
The red wind Isobelle Carmody Viking Books, Penguin Group (Australia)
Duck for a day Meg McKinlay Ill Leila Rudge Walker Books Australia
Toppling Sally Murphy Ill. Rhian Nest James Walker Books Australia
Paranormal